//Apple family house. //
//Pony-ville//
Spike shifted around in his bed, trying to fight his ungodly fever. He turned his head as he gave a sneeze, letting loose another travel of flames.
“Spike?” Came Sweetie bell’s benevolent voice from behind the door.
“Yeah?” Spike said with little effort.
“Are you alright?” She said coming through the door to his bed.
“Yeah, it’s just this headache and fever.” He groaned as turned his body to face Sweetie bell.
“Would you like me to get you anything?”
“Not now, thanks anyway. How are things downstairs?”
“Oh, me, Applebloom and Scootaloo are trying to find ways to get our cutie marks again. So far no luck.” Sweetie hung her head in disappointment.
“Hey, don’t be too hard on yourselves. You’ll get ‘em eventually.” Spike smiled.
Sweetie looked at Spike, forming an appreciative smile.
“Thanks Spike.” She said quietly while blushing a bit.
“As for this fever, I don’t think it’ll quite on me anytime soon.” Spike sat up as he let out another fire sneeze.
“I wish there was more I could do to help you Spike.”
“It’s fine. The company is more than enough.”
Sweetie put her hoof on Spike’s forehead to get his temperature. Spike closed his eyes as he welcomed the soft touch of her hoof.
“Oh my, you’re burning. I think I’ll tell Granny to bring up some more of her soup.” Sweetie looked at Spike who had fallen asleep due to her hoof still placed on his head. Sweetie smiled inwardly at him sleeping soundly at her side.
“Awwww.” Sweetie lowered her hoof to his cheek, then removing her presence from him as she trotted out the room. She quietly shut the door and walked down the steps just in time to hear Scootaloo and Applebloom start to snicker about something. She stopped to lean in and hear what they found so funny.
“Hehe, do you think she’s already making the first move on him?” Scootaloo said.
“I think she’s just so passionately in love with em, they’re probably making out right now.” Applebloom giggled.
Sweetie’s face became red hot and her anger burst through the roof. She gave a shout as she jumped off the stairs onto the two young fillies.
“Take it back!” Sweetie shouted.
“Oh come on Sweetie, we all know how much you want to be in his arms forever.” Scootaloo said from the cloud of dust that engulfed the fighting fillies.
“I do NOT!” Sweetie Shouted again.
“Sweetie and Spike sittin’ in ah tree…” Applebloom said.
“Stop it!!” Sweetie shouted again.
“K-I-S-S-I-N-”
“ENOUGH!!” Shouted Granny Smith from the kitchen door.
All three stopped their fight; Sweetie had her tail in Scootaloo’s mouth. Scootaloo was being grabbed by Applebloom in a choke holder as Sweetie bell had Applebloom in leg lock. They took the time to unscramble themselves as Granny talked about not rough housing while they watched over Spike.
“We need to be absolutely quiet. This fever is a really nasty ‘un.” Granny said with a concerned look.
“Wadda mean Granny?” Applebloom asked.
“I mean we might have to go to that funky look’in zebra to grab some herbs.” Granny said as she stepped back into the kitchen to grab a list.
“Now I want you young uns to get what I need to help make one of ma super special, cold killen recipes for him.”
“Sure thing Granny.” Applebloom said as she grabbed the list and ran towards the door with Scootaloo and Sweetie bell trailing behind.
“And make sure to hurry back, I don’t want ya’ll out longer then after dark ya hear?” She shouted at the running fillies.
“We’ll be back in no time Granny.” Applebloom stopped as she turned around to face her group of friends.
“Cutie mark crusader retrieving things. GO!!” All three shouted as they jumped into the air to hoof slap each other’s hoof.
//Sangehilious//
“You are growing so fast my son,” A voice trailed in a darkened void.
“You have proven to uphold your family’s honor.” It said again in a cheerful tone.
“Yes father. I wait for my training ever so much.” Another light hearted one said.
“In time, my son.”
The void ceased it’s blackness to reveal two Sangehlies standing next to a river. One had a Sangehilie general armor placed on him while the other had a long robe around his body. The Father looked at his son as he held out a necklace.
“This necklace was given to me by my father just before I was sent off to uphold my family’s honor. Wear it proudly son.” The father placed it on the younger one’s neck.
“Thank you Father.” He said with cheerfulness. The son looked at the strange symbol that hung on his proud chest, a swirling star that spread into different directions on the bronze plating.
“It is a symbol of true honor, one that only the Sangehilie can uphold.”
“Like the Great Journey?” The father looked at his son ever so proudly.
“Yes and no.” He kept his aging face on his son.
“I do not understand.”
“True honor, is something not even the Great journey can give. You can follow the path and create your own form of honor from it, but true honor is something that lies inside every one of us.” The father placed his hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Believe in what you decide to be honorable. Freedom is something that no one can ever take from you, no matter how hard they try.” The old Sangehilie looked back at the river. He bent over and grabbed a stone to toss in.
“Bathou’mus, people’s faith in their own honor can be just like this stone; hard, still and unbreakable,”
The father tossed it into the bank, creating a plopping sound as it sank to the visible ground.
“When people’s faiths are put to the test, they can either submit by rolling with the current,” The rock in the bank began to slightly roll towards the end of the bank before it stopped itself by dragging its weight into the dirt.
“Or can fight against the odds, refusing to let their honor be dragged with it.”
Bathou’mus looked back up to his father, creating a respectful grin. Bathou’mus looked back at his necklace before everything went black again.
//Everfree forrest//
Bathou’mus opened his eyes to find himself on the ground next to a similar river. He could still hear the continuing gurgling noise of the river as he rolled his helmet in the damp grass.
“Father?” He asked in a vain attempt to hear his father’s voice one last time.
Silence.
Bathou’mus hung his head in shame.
“I’m sorry father, I’m sorry I never saw it before.” Bathou’mus raised himself into a sitting position; he could still feel the sharp pain of his injured leg. He looked about to find it to be quite dark, he decided to activate his night vision to scan his current position.
“Is this the resting place for the Sangehilie?” Bathou’mus twitched his leg to remind him of the current pain again.
“I guess not. Pain is something you can’t escape in reality.” Bathou’mus leaned his weight forward to examine the damage. A broken spiker shard had dug itself into his large thigh that barely missed his armor plate, and dove into his flesh. The top was too short to pull, and the rest seemed to be buried in at least five inches deep.
“Damn, at least it looks like the bleeding stopped.” Bathou’mus reached into the wound trying to grab some form of leverage at the spiker round. He ignored the fleshy pain that rocketed into his mind as it was still a bit tender to his touch. He pinched at the tip and was able to pull a bit of it out with some struggle. After a minute or so, he was able to grab it with a better grip. He mentally counted to three, and then pulled very slowly as to not break the fragile shard. He grunted as the wound spurted blood onto the grass. He gave an angered shout as he fully pulled it out, and tossed the painful icon away from his sight. The pulsing hole in his thigh shot more blood as it began to bleed more.
Bathou’mus reached into his back armor to retrieve some first aid he stored in the base of his back armor. He grabbed a large cloth and little can of bio-foam that he salvaged from a marine back on installation 04.
“Why we had never used this amazing advancement of medical science to our advantage I’ll never know.”
Bathou’mus wiped the excess pools of jumping blood away from the hole of his leg and began to fill it up with some of the bio-foam. He’d used it before on an Unggoy, and it worked just fine. Still he was unsure of its ramifications towards his anatomy. Much to his surprise, the wound’s inflicting pain began to cease and turn into a numbing sensation. Bathou’mus let out a sigh of relief as he started to wrap his leg in the large cloth.
“Where am I?” Bathou’mus looked at his surroundings. He saw trees all around and no sunlight. Either it was blocked by the trees or it was night fallen. He decided to get up and go explore. He carefully took a step forward with his good leg before shifting his leg on the other injured one. He was able to stand alright but walking created a limp that annoyed him a bit.
“Forrest seems familiar. Wonder if it’s another Installation of some sorts.” Bathou’mus made his way past a row of bushes to find a strange rock pathway. He looked left and right to find no signs of life either way. He activated his helmet’s zoom feature to scan the left and right roads. He saw at the end of the right path a trail of smoke leading into the air. He decided to go check it out, maybe find a survivor or some other form of life. Hopefully, not the flood this time.
“Of all the horrors I’ve seen, none compare to those living beings of death.” Bathou’mus cringed at the painful memory of seeing one of his units literally ripped to shreds at the hands of the other infected squad. He decided to use the trees as cover as he trailed alongside the road to keep it safe. After a while of walking, he reached the source of the smoke to find a strange hut that had a small stand, billowing smoke.
He crouched low, provoking his wound, but still managed to creep up to what he could make out was a window. His size could easily take up half the cottage itself but compared to most Sanghellie, he was rather short. He remembered the encounter with the Demon onboard the Redemption. How his size was only slightly taller than the Demon. Bathou’mus’ could only remember up until the grenade that knocked him out. He looked into the window to find movement from within. Another movement caught his eye, then another. Soon he was able to see that four beings were all moving about in the hut.
“Thanks Zecora!” Shouted a high pitched voice.
“Yeah, this should really help Spike in no time.” This voice had a distinct boyish sound to it.
‘The gods be damned.’ Bathou’mus saw that they all stood on all fours. They each had a bright and edgy color to them. He also noticed that they each had large eyes and unnecessarily large heads. Bathou’mus came to a quick realization that he has discovered a new form of life on an unexplored planet. He still struggled with the idea of how he was able to come across such strange ones. He made up his mind to listen further on their conversations.
“This will help him feel better, it is true. Listen closely, darkness has approached too soon. Hurry to your homes little ones. Do not hesitate to run.” Zecora opened her door to allow the three fillies to exit. Bathou’mus dove back into the cover of the trees. Once the small looking ones had made their way to the road again, he decided it’d be best to follow. He stalked them ever so silently, making sure not to get any attention from the side lines of the road.
“Sure thang Zecora. Thanks again!” Shouted Applebloom.
“Thank you.” said Sweetie bell as she trotted out followed by Scootaloo.
“Yeah thanks.” She said as she raced past Sweetie bell to catch up with Applebloom.
“So do you think Sweetie’s going to ask Spike to the school dance?” She whispered into Applebloom’s ear.
“I think she’s too chicken to ask.” Said Applebloom.
“What are you two talking about?” Asked a concerned Sweetie bell.
“Oh nothing special. Just who we’re taking to the school’s dance this weekend.” Said Scootaloo.
“Oh, who are you two taking?” Sweetie asked.
“Um…I haven’t thought about that yet.” Said Applebloom.
“I was probably going to ask that new kid in our class.” Said Scootaloo
“Who?” Sweetie and Applebloom both asked.
“Uh I forgot his name. He’s the new one that came in last week.”
“You mean the strange one that doesn’t really talk to anypony?” Sweetie asked.
“Yeah. That’s him.” Scootaloo said.
All three made their way out of the forest and were now headed towards the farm. Unaware at the behemoth tracking them in the new forming shadows of the night. Bathou’mus made sure to keep a distance from them but still managed to listen at their conversation with ease. With the night casting shadows all around him made it all the more easier to do so. The three finally made their way onto the farm, they began to laugh but soon Applebloom had a hidden feeling that struck her sixth sense. She looked at the farmhouse to find that the lights were on, but that wasn’t it. She felt as if something was amiss.
“Applebloom, what’s wrong?” Sweetie bell asked, grabbing the attention of Scootaloo.
“I don’t know, feels like-“ A sudden crash came from the inside of the house. This caused Applebloom to run full speed to her home with the other two not far behind. Bathou’mus took a moment to absorb the scenery around him. He saw that it resembled primitive living, similar to the ancient upbringings of the Sangeihlie. He cautiously stepped out into the open to scan the area. Finding no life forms about, he silently followed the fillies to their home.
“Maybe I can get some answers about this unusual place.” He stopped as he reached the side of the house. He peered through to find that it was much larger than the hut in the forest. He could make out certain appliances and chairs. He also noticed that the three fillies were standing in the room; they each had a terrified look on them as they stared at the ground. Bathou’mus raised himself a bit to find a larger red one, lying on the ground unconscious. He turned his head to see that another pale green one was standing in front of the fillies as a protective mother would. He looked at what seemed to be two larger stallions with black and grey coats. Easily the size as the unconscious red one that lay on the ground; they looked at the Apple family with intentions to harm.
“Ya’ll think ya can come in and wreck ma property like that?!” Screamed Granny.
“Property that’s ours now. Me and the boys need a place to hide while the guards are looking for us.”
“Well go an find a sewer where ya belong, NOW GET OUTTA MY HOUSE!” She again yelled.
The black stallion raised his hoof as he lightly struck the old mare. Granny fell to the ground hard.
“GRANNY!!” yelled Applebloom who ran to her aid.
“I’m fine Applebloom, this here fella hits like a pansy.” She grinned. The black Stallion raised his hoof to strike but the grey one stopped him. He gave a shake of his head as to say not to waste your time. The black one acknowledged and began to walk towards the stairs.
“Hey Pale!” he shouted.
“Yeah?” Said a low voice.
“Find any valuables?”
“Yeah, I think so.” A few hoof steps later and a pale looking stallion made his way down the steps, carrying a box in his mouth.
“Let me have a look.” Said the grey one. He reached into the box to find a golden necklace that had a golden apple with an encrusted ruby in the center.
“This looks expensive.” The menacing grey pony said with a smile.
“That’s ma moms!” Applebloom shouted with tears forming on her face. “Get yer dirty hooves off it!” She charged at the grey pony that easily struck her with his hoof. Applebloom fell back next to the other cutie mark crusaders.
“I’m sure your mom wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it for a bit.” He said chuckling. He undid the notch and placed it around his neck. He lifted it to his face to get a closer look reflecting it off the ruby’s center glow, showing his cracked tooth and rugged black mane.
“That’s the only thing I had to remember her by!” Applebloom said as she cried. Scootaloo and Sweetie bell placed their hoofs on their grieving friend.
“Well, tough luck. PALE, MIDNIGHT!” he turned towards the two other stallions.
“We need to wrap this up, throw the big red guy in the cellar and lock these three in the upstairs roo-“
“YARRRR” Roared a fierce yell as Spike jumped on top of the white stallion.
“AAAAUUUGGHHH, a purple pony eater!!” Shouted Pale.
“Take this! And This, and some of these!” Spike shouted as he clawed at the stallion. The grey stallion simply shook his head as he grabbed the little dragon off of Pale. Spike was still throwing his body weight around and randomly punching the air.
“And take this little one back upstairs with the other three.” He said as he tossed Spike back with the rest of the group. Sweetie quickly ran up and planted her front hooves into the ground as she delivered a mighty buck into the grey’s stallion’s batteries. He tumbled over and cringed in convulsing pain before rage over whelmed him and he smacked Sweetie bell with his front hoof. Sweetie tumbled back into the group, placing her hoof on her now swelling eyeball.
“DO IT NOW!” He shouted in pure rage. The black and white earth ponies obeyed their command as they both grabbed the four youngsters upstairs to their prison.
“And as for you,” He turned to face the snickering Granny. “You are going to sit in that chair until the guards stop looking for us.”
“Well I needed to get some knitting done anyways.” Granny grudgingly sat in her rocking chair. She gave the grey stallion a hatred look as she kept her gaze on him while she knitted. “If you think you’re gettin’ away with this you got another thing coming.”
“Hahah, sure whatever ya say ya old coot. Keep knitting like a good granny and nopony gets hurt.” He said.
Thumps were heard as the two stallions made their way back to the bottom floor.
“Take him, and make sure to put some cement or something to lock him in. He was one tough son a bitch!” The grey one looked at big mac’s sleeping body. Midnight grabbed his back hooves while Pale grabbed his front ones.
“So, ugh, when do we’s get the buck outta here?” Midnight asked as he hefted the large body.
“Yeah, I’m starving, Neutral!” Said Pale
“Stop your whining and place that bastard in the cellar.” Neutral said irritatedly. He slowly shifted his body on the ground still feeling the after effects of Sweetie’s buck. Midnight and Pale couldn’t help but snicker a bit as they dragged Big Mac outside. They took their time as to not accidentally awaken the beast as they carefully placed him onto the ground next to the cellar doors.
“Man, how much money do ya think we’s gonna make after this heist?” Pale asked.
“Maybe a few thousand bits or so. Maybe we can get that face lift for ya when we get back to canterlot.” Midnight said with a chuckle, mocking Pale’s odd appearance.
“Hey! Ma mother said ah had da’ face of an angel.” He said
“Yeah, an ugly one.” Midnight laughed.
“What do you say we toss him into this here cellar and get back to Neut? He’s gonna be pissed if we’s don’t do dis fast.” Pale said as he opened the cellar doors.
“Yeah, don’t know why the boss man put him in charge. He bucked up big time, not sure if the boss is willing for second chances either.” Midnight said with a sense of horror in his voice.
“Yeah, boss man don’t like buck-ups.” Pale said with a shiver. They both picked Big Mac up and hefted his limp body into the cellar, making his body tumble around aimlessly until it hit the bottom with a satisfying thud. Pale and Midnight shut the door and placed as many items on top as they could to keep him there.
“I can’t imagine anything scarier than being on the boss man’s shit list.” Pale said as he placed the final item on top of an unnecessary large tower of other items.
“Yeah, can’t think of anything more terrifyin’ than-” Midnight stopped his sentence as him and Pale noticed a rather large shadow creeping up behind them. They froze still as the shadow kept growing and growing and growing until it covered both the stallions with such fear that they began to shake. They could feel the presence of unholy evil standing right behind them, waiting for them to face it. Pale turned his head slightly around to take a small peek. Midnight shifted his eyes at Pale who never thought could see his friend get anymore white. This tempted Midnight to take a peek as well.
He saw a large bipedal pony, larger than a Minotaur. It hunched over slightly with what he could make to be its head, staring at their souls with interest. The terror it held nearly made his bowels move inside his stomach. He saw that Pale was beyond saving as he just kept his everlasting gaze of horror upon the beast. Midnight stood still for what felt like hours before the beast made a strange clicking noise. It leaned closer with its head until its glowing white eyes were at a heart stopping distance from them.
“Boo.”
Pale and Midnight felt their heads smash against each other before passing out from the sheer fear it held on them. Bathou’mus easily had both their heads in his large hands; he let his grip go as they fell to the ground limp. He made a quick motion with his arm as he smacked the tower of items off the cellar door. This caused Neutral to walk up to the window, hoping it was his two goons making the ruckus. His vision was obstructed by the side of the house.
“Pale! Midnight! Knock it off will ya?!” He shouted.
No response.
“Pale!?” He shouted again, this time a sense of unease spiked into his brain. He quickly shut and locked the door.
“What’s the matter sonny? Feel’en uneasy?” Granny mocked.
“SHUT UP.” He whispered strongly. He backed away from the front door as he heard large steps make their way onto the patio. Neutral quickly got up and grabbed Granny out of her rocking chair. He placed a small knife on her throat as he led her to the door.
“Any funny business and you die right on this floor. Understood?” He said threateningly. The pacing outside stopped as the door gave a subtle knocking sound. He motioned her forward until they were at the door. He pointed to the door to let her know to open it. Granny obeyed and opened it to find nopony around. She gave a confused look as she couldn’t see or hear anypony around her house.
“Uh, hello?” She asked. Still no answer.
“I swear, if they are doing this to me for shits and giggles.” Neutral looked around to see or hear nopony. He began to loosen up as he stepped behind Granny to get a better view. In a sudden movement, faster than anything he had ever seen. Granny was pulled out the door by two large arms that pulled her away from Neutral, leaving him without a pony shield. The arms tossed Granny onto the ground rather softly as to not harm her. With a motion, a large body fell from the top of the farmhouse, connecting to the arms.
It easily covered the doorway with its body, and its giant head peeked through the door and set its piercing eyes on Neutral. With another sudden motion, the beast snatched at his throat and pulled him through the door. He dragged Neutral outside and lifted him up with ease to face his helmet’s visor.
“I may not be from around here, but I know dishonor when I see it.” Bathou’mus hissed.
“What the buck?! Who the hell are you?!?” Neutral shouted.
“The monument to all your sins.” He growled menacingly. Neutral looked at the ground to find himself as tall as the roof. His breathing was strangled by the iron grip the elite had on him, squeezing tighter every second. Bathou’mus used his free hand to grab his helmet as he slowly pulled it off to reveal his terrifying face. A soft hiss and the helmet fell to the ground with a thud. Neutral’s expression froze from an overdose of pure fear. (Like how you found out about Mass Effect 3’s ending the first time.)
Bathou’mus had a large scar over his left eye, starting at the top and ending just above his first row of mandibles. His eyes were green and looked more dragon than reptilian. He used his first row of mandibles to breathe slightly while keeping the bottom row shut, giving him more of human like appearance. Well, as close as he could. His skin looked smoother rather than the spiky hardened scales other Sangehilie had.
He eyed Neutral with a deadly glare, wanting to kill the miserable bastard. He instead opened both rows of mandibles and gave a deafening roar into the stallion’s face. His rugged mane flew back as drops of saliva splattered across his face. His hearing shot and mind scrambled, Neutral passed out after the Elite finished his terror yell. Bathou’mus chuckled to himself as he eyed the golden necklace around Neutral’s neck. He looked at him with a disapproving face as he removed it from his body. He tossed the stallion aside as he slowly walked over to the pale green looking one. Granny had witnessed the events, and felt really perplex about what the buck just happened. She watched the monster slowly make its way to her, she began to rise up but her body was strained and exhausted. She tried her best to rise but she landed back onto her flank as Bathou’mus made his way right next to her.
“Haven’t ever seen a feller like you around ‘ere.” She said as she tried one more vain attempt to rise. To her dismay, she fell again as her legs gave out. Bathou’mus bent down and scooped her up in his giant arms, carrying her like she weighed no less than a feather. He walked back to pick up his helmet before making his way into the house. He gently placed Granny on the door’s entry way.
“You really know how ta sweep a mare off er hooves.” Granny said while chuckling.
“Go check on your kin, I have unfinished business to attend to.” Bathou’mus placed his helmet back on his head with a satisfying click. He then made his way to Neutral’s body. He lifted it up on his shoulder as he made his way to the other two nimrods.
“What da ya think happened?” Applebloom asked as she put her ear to the door.
“Sounds like maybe the guards found us.” Scootaloo said. Spike and Sweetie bell sat next to each other on the bed. Spike had his arm around Sweetie as he tried to comfort her.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Spike asked again.
“Yeah, going to hurt tomorrow though. Rarity’s going to have a fit when she sees me like this.” Sweetie bell said. Spike looked away as he began to let out a heavy sigh.
“Look, I think I need to come clean here.” He said. Sweetie perked up her head as she gave her full attention to Spike.
“I know that my crush on Rarity was kind of obvious to everypony, but sitting here and thinking, I believe it’s time for me to move on. I know that we’ll never be together. No matter how much I fantasize about it.”
Spike hung his head in shame as he let out his greatest defeat yet. Sweetie could tell this hurt him more than he let on. All those hours of helping around the house, being her assistant for the sole purpose of trying to get Rarity’s attention. Sweetie began to feel judgmental toward her older sibling. How could she not return his love? How dare she do this to him! It just wasn’t fair.
“I’m sorry Spike. I know that must be rough for you.” Sweetie placed her hooves on Spike as she gave him a tight hug. She opened her eyes to see Applebloom and Scootaloo both smiling to themselves. She gave them both a deadly glare.
“Thanks Sweetie.” Spike said as he broke the hug. He then gave a sneeze as flames that shot out towards the other two crusaders, slightly smoldering them.
“Oh, sorry.” Spike apologized. Applebloom and Scootaloo both shook their bodies to clear themselves up.
“It’s okay Spike.” They all heard hoof steps approaching the room. Applebloom and Scootaloo quickly ran on the bed with Spike and Sweetie bell.
“Who do you think it is?” Asked Applebloom shivering in fear.
“ I do hope it’s the guards.” Said Sweetie as she clung to Spike unknowingly.
“Or maybe it’s their boss I heard them talking about downstairs.” Said Scootaloo
“Bring it on!” Spike said, trying to sound courageous. Sweetie looked up at him as he proudly protruded his chest out. She smiled a bit before the steps got closer, causing her to cringe even closer to him. The doors swung opened to reveal Granny holding a bowl of soup in her mouth.
“Come an’ get some dinner while it’s hot, kids.” She said.
“GRANNY!!” Shouted Applebloom as she raced to her with tears in her eyes. Sweetie and the others jumped off the beds as they all followed suit.
“Are you okay Granny?” Asked Spike. Applebloom softly tackled Granny at the base of her hooves, careful not to knock over the dish that Granny placed on top of the drawer next to the door.
“Oh Granny! What happened?!” She said as she cried on her chest. Granny held Applebloom in a tight embrace.
“Well, somepony was just so kind enough to help us. He’s downstairs putting Big Mac on the couch. Wanna go thank him?” Granny stepped aside to let the eager little ones go meet this heroic stallion. Spike felt a twinge of jealousy as he acted bemused. Sweetie looked at him and placed her hoof on his shoulder, immediately reading his thoughts.
“I thought you literally jumping in to save the day was pretty cool too, Spike.” Sweetie said.
“You think so?” Spike said.
“Yeah. Way past cool.” Scootaloo said as she hoof bumped his shoulder. Spike smiled a bit before chasing Sweetie and Scootaloo to the stairs.
“Now careful, he’s a mighty big un.” Granny called out as she led Applebloom slowly to the stairs.
Bathou’mus placed the large red one down on the couch as he looked back at the door. The doorway looked like a cartoon cut out of his body. He sighed at his clumsy act; he should’ve found another way in. The tiredness in his leg ached as the bio-foam began to wear off. He made some room on the ground as he sat slowly in a meditation position. His mind began to recap the events that had happened.
‘These species have no record on any covenant known channels. Could it be they are in alliance with the humans? They have living attire similar to them. Their voice patterns seem similar as well as their native language. So what should happen next? If they have a connection with the humans, then maybe I can continue my plans after all.’ He then felt a memory flash before him as he recapped it from the deep repression vault he kept in his mind. He held an energy sword that pierced the body of a screaming human, he felt the warm insides slide down his digits as he drove deeper and deeper. Bathou’mus looked into the eyes of the human, seeing victory but also a hidden form of regret. The human whispered his last breath of the name of what he assumed to be his friend or mate.
“Goodbye, Amy.” He said as he accepted his fate. Bathou’mus slowly pulled the marine off his blade. He tossed the corpse to the ground as he stared continually at it. He felt something ping in him, a sense of corruption to this whole war. He decided it was unnecessary guilt most soldiers experienced in war but he could not shrug this one death off for some reason. Bathou’mus couldn’t help but feel sorrow for it. Sorrow that he trained himself for years to never feel. He had killed many before, why did this one stick out like a sore thumb? He knelt down and closed the marine’s eyes as to try and bring a secrete form of peace to himself as well as for the human. Bathou’mus looked closer at what he assumed to be its mark or tag. He ripped it off as he tried to read the symbols. He barely had time before he heard the sound of reinforcements arriving.
“Bathou’mus? To even touch those inferior begins, is a sign of heresy!” His squad leader shouted. Bathou’mus quickly stood up as he held his fist out with the tag in his hand.
“I was merely accruing a trophy from it. It proved itself as a worthy adversary.” He said victoriously.
The leader gave a respectful nod as he walked to Bathou’mus and placed his hand on him.
“As you say. You’ve held your own rather well. I will send my report to the council. I do believe you are ready for the Spec ops clan, my brother.” He said proudly. Bathou’mus gave a quick grin though his minor armor. He gave one more glance at the body before his mind returned back to his current situation.
He gave a quick puff of air before quietly letting a strained tear escape his eye. He reached into his armor to pull out the very same tag as to remind him again of his ignorance. He stuffed it back into his armor as he awaited the fillies that stood in fear right behind him. He may have posttraumatic stress from time to time but he could still feel their presence. He cleared his throat to get their attention. Applebloom slowly walked around him to face his front. It felt like walking around the base of a mountain to her. She finally made it to what she assumed to be its head.
“What is it that you require of me?” He asked not moving his helmet.
“Uh, thank you.” She said unsurely.
He turned his head as he noticed it to be the little filly that fiercely charged the bandit. He thought she had a lot of guts standing up to something three times her size. It’d be like a grunt charging a brute, which just never happens without grunt juice splattered about.
Bathou’mus heavily sighed as he raised his arm out to her clutching his fist to hand her something.
Applebloom looked at it confusingly before she saw a glint of gold in his fist. She placed her hoof underneath as he slowly opened his giant hand that held her mother’s necklace. It slid out and onto her hoof. Applebloom began to feel tears rise again as she held it tightly close to her.
“Make sure not to lose it again.” He said. Bathou’mus turned his helmet forward once again. He gave a short breath of air as he started to rise but felt something tackle his side. He looked down to see the little filly trying her best to wrap herself around his bulging armor. Bathou’mus was frozen with confusion, he never expected this kind of reaction. With a confused look he slowly wrapped his arm around her as he gently broke her hold on him. He lifted her up and placed her back onto the ground.
“Thank you mister, Oh thanks!” She said while happy tears rolled down her face. “Ya don’t know how much this means ta me!”
“Oh, I think I do.” Bathou’mus pulled into the cuff of his collar armor to reveal a bronze colored necklace with a swirling star. He showed it to Applebloom before he placed it back.
“So what’s yer name?” She asked excitedly.
“You may call me Bathou’mus.” He said as he rose again.
“Bat muss?” She said confusingly. The elite looked down at her in annoyance.
“No, Ba-thou-mus.” He said much slower. He felt something climb on his shoulder as the young orange one hung on his right shoulder piece.
“So can we call you Batty?” She asked. Before he could retort, the white one appeared on his left one.
“OH, Oh, I know, how about Mustard!” She said.
“What?” Bathou’mus turned his head to face her.
“Or maybe Bathousand!” Yelled Scootaloo.
“That’s stupid!” Shouted Sweetie bell.
“Your face is stupid.” Retorted Scootaloo.
“Oh yeah….”
“Yea—WHOA!!”Scootaloo felt a large hand grab her entire body as Bathou’mus quickly reached around with both arms to pull the two off him. He gently placed them on the ground before heading to the door.
“Wait, where ya’ll going?” Applebloom said as she blocked his path.
“This household cannot suite my size. I must find a place to set camp. Please move yourself from my path.”
“But…”
“Whoa now there sonny, can’t have ya sleep’in in the woods now.” Granny said as she came down the stairs. “We have a barn for ya, if ya want to spend the night in there.”
“I appreciate the hospitality, but I have questions that need answering.” He said turning around.
“What kinda questions?” She asked.
“Where and what this place is.” He said.
“Shoot sonny, I can tell ya if ya want.” Granny said as she sat in her rocking chair. Bathou’mus never considered to ask them about this place. He felt a little insulted that he never considered that in the first place. He let out a sigh before he turned around again.
“Very well, I shall set my camp in this ‘barn’ of yours.” He said as he passed through the makeshift hole in the doorway he made.
“Alrighty then, Applebloom can ya show em where the barn is?” Granny said as she started to knit.
“Sure thang.” She ran out the door as Bathou’mus stepped to the side to let her take the lead.
“So, can we call you Bathy?” She asked innocently.
“No.” He said irritably.
“But, Bachoumoose is too hard ta say.” She said innocently as she gave him her saddest look she could ever give. The Elite felt a sharp pain of nuisance enter his mind. He was about to lay out the honor code of the Sangehilie on her and how saying his name any other way was as sign of dishonor. He looked down at the young creature, but stopped his lecture before he started as he saw something he lost all knowledge of.
Innocence.
This being had no knowledge of his kind nor him of hers. He decided that maybe the honor code, could be thrown out the window, just this once. He looked down and admitted defeat.
“Alright, Bathy it is.” He said coldly. Shuddering at his own use of the words. Applebloom shifted her sad look into a very happy one as she trotted to the barn.
“Alrighty then Bathy, here ya go. Have a good night.” She said as she opened the doors for the Elite. Before she left for the house she turned around to ask him one more thing.
“Um, what happened to those burglars?” She asked. He stepped through the barn and got a good look of the interior. He saw hay stuffed in the corners of the barn as farm equipment was hung around the walls. A plow was stationed in the middle with some harnesses strung about on the ground. Without turning his head he answered her question rather darkly.
“I let them live. They are tied up inside the compartment adjacent to your house. I believe they referred it as the cellar.” He said as he moved around to get a feel for the space.
“Oh, okay, I’ll go tell Granny.”
“Granny?” He said confusingly.
“Oh, her real name is Granny Smith Apple. But we just call her Granny.”
“And what might you be called?” He asked.
“It’s Applebloom.”
“Applebloom?”
“Eeyup.” She said mimicking her older brother. She then let out a yawn as she smacked her lips afterwards.
“You seem to be tired, go and rest little one.” He said as he secretly smiled inside his helmet.
“Okay. Thanks for saving us Bathy. Goodnight.” She said as she made her way back to the house.
Bathou’mus watched her make her way home before he shut the barn doors. Inside was big enough for him to move about. He sat against the side of the barn, making it wobble against his weight. He closed his eyes, praying for an absence from the nightmares this time. The one last thought he had before he passed out was why they even considered a monster like him to be a hero. They had no knowledge of his species or himself personally. If they did, they might take a different and more hostile approach to him. He looked around the room one more time, feeling the atmosphere of peace about, which actually reminded him of his time on Sangehilious. With that peaceful thought he fell asleep. Luckily this time, no nightmares approached him as he breathed silently in his deep slumber.